Midwife a bit useless??

[Merrz]

Anyone else feel like their Midwife is a bit useless? I'm 32 weeks, my midwife is really nice but she has given me no information about anything, she didn't even advise me about my flu jab, if i hadn't asked she would never have mentioned it. Every appointment i go in, she checks urine sample and blood pressure, had measured my bump the last 2 appointments then sends me on my way.
I don't know what i really expect but my friend said her midwife has been discussing hospital bag/birth plan etc but my midwife has never mentioned any of these things

First-time mother here and I’ve been impressed by my community midwife. Have been lucky enough to see the same one most of the time and I find her really positive and reassuring. She takes my blood pressure, measures my bump, tests my urine and asks if I have any questions, then sends me on my way. So similar experience as you Op, but I guess I don’t expect her to do anymore/provide more info unless I ask. For example, I asked her earlier on when we’d discuss the birth plan and she said at the 36-week app. So that cleared that up for me.

Before going into each app, I write down a list of questions/concerns. Maybe try that?

It’s shit but unfortunately midwives often don’t actually have time to give their women supplementary information or advice. Imagine you have an afternoon clinic in which have have to see 14 women, you have a 15 minute slot for each which gives you just enough time to do their blood pressure, urine dip, palpation, measuring; listening in, writing your notes, duplicating this information on the GP surgery computer system, filling in a caseload book, plotting a bloody fundal height graph... it goes in and on! And then one of your ladies has protein in her urine and a raised blood pressure and you have to spend 20 minutes on the phone trying to get her seen at the hospital, or one client walks into the room and bursts into tears because she is feeling depressed/anxious and you have to talk through her concerns and make a referral to the mental health team; or you can’t find a fetal heart...

My antenatal clinic would regularly run incredibly late and I’d still get home and think ‘oh god I never did xyz’. The workload is impossible at times. If you want to know something, just ask. Your midwife will be more than happy to be explain or advise, it may just be that it isn’t always at the front of her mind to tell you every detail.

Yeah i totally get they are busy and she is really nice so I feel bad complaining about her, I'm a very organised person, i like to know exactly what's happening when (obviously you can't plan birth to that degree) but it was just making me feel a bit lonely and scared. I know there's loads of books and on-line information but there is sooo much of it, it's almost a bit overwhelming and it's hard to know what you should believe.
Anyway had my 1st antenatal class yesterday and feel loads better about everything, got a tour round the Labour ward and the midwife was so informative, literally went though step by steps of everything. I guess it makes sense to do it that way where at midwife appointments they just checks your/babys health then the information if given at antenatal classes rather than the midwife having to spout the same speal at everyone's appointment. It would of just made me feel better over these last couple of months if i'd know that's what would happen.

I get they’re busy too but mine is just so slopey shouldered. I asked if would be discussing my birth plan with her next week and she’s fobbed me off so I have to speak to the consultant. I had protein in my urine and she said she’d give me a call about the results... 3 weeks later I’m still waiting. She said she’d refer me to the health visitor and I should expect a call that week only to tell me on the next appointment she didn’t do it because I’m not in her area for referral and did I “have a local drop in I could go to”. She didn’t even think to ask me if I’d got a 12 week scan and GDD test booked until after both appointments had been and gone in the hospital.

The hospital midwives are fantastic and really on the ball

Being busy is no excuse for not giving out important information (like recommendation to get a flu jab!) I'm afraid. That should be on the basic list of things to mention at booking in / one of the early appointments. Just like going through the signs of pre-eclampsia questions at each appointment, etc. that sort of thing is basic care IMO.

Admittedly a lot of mums will read up and learn these things by themselves, but not all.

I'm not in with my midwife for very long at each appointment, but you can tell she's going over the checklist to make sure she's mentioned everything pertinent. I'm lucky with my midwife set up though - I go to a small birth centre and the team are very friendly and accommodating.

AngualUberWald that does sound pretty bad, mine forgot to put my 28 week blood results on the computer system or my on-line app, when i asked about them at my last appointment she had to go searching for them. Luckily they were all fine but makes me wonder if she ever actually looked at them!
Yeah definitely TheSubtleKnifeAndFork she took a bit of a red face when i asked about my flu jab and she realised she had forgotten to tell me but it did worry me a lot, like what else has she 'forgotten' to tell me?? I think as a 1st time mum i just expected a little more guidance and support from my Midwife

I had my 36 week appt today and was asked if I wanted to do a birth plan, which I declined.
I don’t think they mention birth plans until the 36 week appt as a general rule (obviously different if you’re thinking about an ELCS)

Yes! Same as you, lovely but useless. Went to an appointment yesterday and another midwife was covering. Long story short, I should have been sent for a growth scan as my measurement was way low at my last appointment. Also, from my booking in appointment I should have been referred to a consultant about polyhydramnios in my first pregnancy and had a 34 week scan booked.

None of these 2 things happened. I'm now 31 weeks and have moved area so have a new midwife who I meet on Monday. I've been told to tell her that this has been overlooked and that I need a 34 week scan!

Honestly she's a lovely woman but if they're not going to take the appropriate action when something is flagging up as a possible concern then they're not much use!

Yes. Though the midwives I find are the issue are the ones at the hospital.

I have excessively swollen legs, feet, ankles and hands.

I had protein in my urine at my 28 week appointment.

I've rang with blurred vision and headaches.

I am becoming increasingly concerned about the swelling, especially because I am very high risk of blood clots (I use a wheelchair full time).

Raising my concerns seem to be futile. I've been made to feel like a silly young girl each time.

I've never seen the same midwife more than once in either pregnancy. I didn't know that was a protocol.

My DD had a midwife who visited her at home, took her BP and then said she thought the machine must be faulty as her BP could nopt be that high. She failed to notice her limbs swollen up like a michelin man. Needless to say DD proceeded to full-blown pre-eclampsia - I was incandescent with rage.

Did your DD mention her swollen limbs Mishappening?

My hospital's maternity services don't have a great cqc rating, but I have to say, everyone I've seen so far has been excellent. I had tons of questions at my last appointment but she either beat me to it, asking "do you want to know about..." or seemed really happy that I'd asked.

Sorry, not being smug. Just wanted to reassure people that there are good ones out there!

I also don't mind too much not seeing the same once twice. I'd rather meet them all, as you can't predict who'll be on duty when you go into labour.